John Robert Wooden (October 14, 1910 – June 4, 2010) was an American basketball coach. Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player (inducted in 1961) and as a coach (inducted in 1973), he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period while at UCLA are unmatched by any other college basketball coach.

He was one of my referent during my coaching experience.

I learn so much after reading his book “They call Me Coach” from John Wooden, with Jack Tobin (2003) McGraw-Hill Professional

The book begun by “Life is a united effort of many… “ … Education was part of his belief…the only road to success was through education

Learn as if you were to live forever

Live as if you were to die tomorrow

I recall from him John Wooden’s many of his sentences….

My personal best :

Success is peace of mind

which is a direct result of

Self satisfaction in knowing you did the best to become the

Best you are capable of becoming

I recall his magnificent Pyramid of Success.

which consists of philosophical building blocks for winning at basketball and at life.

–Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

–Flexibility is the key to stability.

–Be quick, but don’t hurry.

–Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do

–Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are

–It is amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit

–It is what you learn after you know it all that counts

–Enjoy the present hour, be mindful of the past and neither fear nor wish the approaches of the last

–Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there

–Young people need models, not critics

–Flexibility is the key to stability.

–Be true to yourself.

–Make each day your masterpiece.

–Help others.

–Build a shelter against a rainy day.

–Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

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Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did the best to become the best you are capable of becoming